Display counter



Spt, 11, 1951 A. A. LONGl 2,567,388

` I f DISPLAY COUNTER Filed Aug. 12, 1946 n INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" DISPLAY ooUNfrER Alfred A. Long, Los Angeles, Calif. Application August 12, 1946seria1N0. 689,890

Y 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to display counters and deals more-particularly with a structure adapted for use as a restaurant counter or as a display counter for merchandizing stores.

An object of the present invention is to provide a goods-displaying case for attractively and conveniently displaying food and other goods.

v Another object of the invention is to provide a display-caseY which embodies a counter` before which persons may sit or stand to view the contents ofthe case through the transparent top thereof.V

Another object of the invention is to provide such a case in which reflecting mirrors are adjustably arranged to reflect the contents of the case through the transparent top for convenient viewing thereof by persons positioned in front of the counter of the case.

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a display case embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken cross-sectional view of a-sliding panel employed in the invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail face view of a reflecting element arranged in opposed relation to the sliding panel.

The case comprising the invention is mounted on a supporting frame I in which may be incorporated refrigerating means I I for cooling the contents of the case. The latter comprises, generally, a bottom wall I2, a front wall I3, a top wall I4, a rear wall I5, suitable end walls, and a counter I6 coplanar with the top Wall I4 and comprising a forward extension thereof. According to the invention, the wall l comprises one or more sliding panels incorporating adjustable reflecting means I1. Opposed adjustable reflecting means I8 is carried by the front wall I3 so that a person standing or sitting before the counter I6 can see the' ieflected'images lof goods in the interior of the case by reflection,'thereof` through the top I4. The bottom wall I2 is generally conventional as is the front wall I3. |Ifhe top'wall I4 isjpreferably made of Atwo super-imposed layers, bothI transparent, the upper layer I9 of transparent glass for hardness and resistance to wear and the lower layer 20 of a suitable transparent plastic such as plexiglas Should the top glass layer become broken, the bottom layer will serve to prevent glass particles from falling into the case to spoil the contents thereof. A

The wall I5 is generally inwardly and upward- 1y sloped as shown and the sliding panels comprising said wall are mounted in upper and lower rails 2| and are guided in said rails as b-y suitable rollers 22 in a substantially conventional manner. Each wall panel consists of a frame 23 formed to include a hollow chamber 24 coextensive with the dimensions of the panel. The inner side of each panel is closed by a transparent plate or Wall 25. Within the chamber is disposed the means I1 which consists of one or more mirrors 26 mounted on a horizontal hinge or pivot 21 whereby said mirrors are tiltable relatively to the panels of wall I5. Each mirror, at or near its free top end, pivotally carries a latch 28 which extends through an opening 29 of the panel Wall 23 and is provided with teeth 3|! selectively engageable with an edge of the opening 29. By suitably tilting said latch member 28 and tilting the mirror on its hingev 21, and then reengaging the member to lock the mirror in place, a suitable angular adjustment thereof can be obtained.

The counter I6 also may be two-ply, as shown. with an upper layer 3I of wood, glass, plastic, etc., and a lower layer 32 of strength-imparting metal.

Suitable shelves 33 may be provided in the case and preferably mounted on the front Wall I3 as shown. Between said shelves and between the lower shelf and the bottom I2, the means I8 is provided. As shown, said means consists of one or more longitudinally aligned mirrors 34, each provided with a bottom horizontal hinge 35 whereby angular adjustment thereof can be effected. A notch 36 is provided in the upper free edge of each mirror 34. Latches 31 (similar to member 28) are pivoted on the front wall I3. Teeth 38 in the latches 31 engage the notches 35 of the mirrors 34 to hold the mirrors 34 at any suitable angle and thereby aiding the viewing of the case contents by further reflection through the mirror I1.

Examples of paths of reflection are shown. in

Fig. 1, and it will be apparent that a person at the counter I6 can view the contents of the case which are thus attractively displayed.

It iS to be understood that the transparent plate 25 not only prevents the mirror 26 from becoming frosted by the cold Within the case, but it also keeps foreign matter, including particles of food, liquids, etc., from getting inside the frame 23. In other words, the plate 25 avoids an un-V sanitary condition within the frame 23.

The shelf 40 at the back of the counter is useful for supporting various articles, either of food to be served, or dishes, napkins, utensils, or the like.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I, therefore, do not Wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may f all Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A display case comprising a transparent top, a counter forming a lateral extension of said top, adjustable reecting members arranged to face toward the interior of the case and away from said counter for receiving reflections of some of the items in the case, and an adjustable reflecting element opposed to the mentioned reflecting elements for receiving the reflections of the latter elements and also of other items in the case and transmitting said reiiections through the transparent top to be viewed by a person sitting before said counter.

2. A display case comprising a transparent top, a counter forming a lateral extension of said top, adjustable reflecting members arranged to face toward the interior of the case and away from said counter for receiving reflections of some of the items in the case, at least one item-supporting shelf between said reflecting elements to support items in front of one of said elements, and an adjustable reflecting element opposed to the mentioned reflecting elements for receiving the reflections of the latter elements and also of other items in the case and transmitting said reflections through the transparent top to be viewed by a person spitting before said counter.

ALFRED A. LONG.

REFERENCES. 91.121.)

The following references are of record in the file 0f this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 201,756 Dealy Mar. 26, 1878 1,179,831 Hess Apr. 18, 1916 1,289,286 Suter De. 31, 191s 1,606,027 Gruendler Nov. 9. 1926 1,744,081 Reid Jan. 21, 1930 2,021,207 stats Nov. 19, 1935 

